Japan - Kyoto from Tokyo - 1 day trip worth it?

I am staying in Tokyo for 6 nights at the Conrad. This is the 1st time I've been to Japan and not sure exactly what I should see. I have heard that Kyoto is very interesting.

I read that I can take the bullet train in about 3 hours. Is it worth it to do that and come back the same day? Are most of the interesting sites close together?

I will be by myself so if that makes a difference, please advise.

Appreciate any advice about Kyoto or other day trips to do from Tokyo.

There is a lot to see and do in Kyoto and that doesn't even include nearby Nara. I would recommend you consider actually spending a few nights there. Although there is no Hilton in Kyoto, as far as I know, there is one right at Osaka station which is only about a 30 minute train ride from Kyoto.

So I'd suggest you consider doing at least two nights in Kyoto or Osaka (if you want to use points).

Given your stay period, a 7 day JR pass is also worth serious consideration.

If you're spending 7 nights in Japan and have no idea what to see, then your first step is to buy a guidebook. US$25 or so is a minimal expense in a trip that is sure to cost a couple thousand.

(I'm in a bit of a tape loop in this respect, but I'm always surprised at how many people want to go to a foreign country with no idea what's there. On another board, a questioner wanted to know what to see on the way to visiting a relative who is in the military in Okinawa. This person was asking about the "villages" of Kyoto, Yakushima, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki.)

Both Tokyo and Kyoto have entire guidebooks devoted to them from two or three publishers, and all these guidebooks contain suggestions for side trips from the core cities.

Even if you're leaving next week, you will have time to read up on your destination, and unless you live in East Asia, you'll definitely have time on the plane ride over.

If you're not near a large bookstore or aren't into paper books, then here's a list of destinations about which the Japan National Tourism Organization provides information online:

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/destinations/

I am staying in Tokyo for 6 nights at the Conrad. This is the 1st time I've been to Japan and not sure exactly what I should see. I have heard that Kyoto is very interesting.

Kamakura is less than an hour from Shinbashi on a single train, and is essentially Kyoto-lite. You can pack a lot of culture in a single day, and save Kyoto for another time when you'll have more time to explore it.

This will sound like a broken record - but I'll try to say it differently.

Is Kyoto worth a visit? Yes, absolutely. Several days.

Is it worth it to simply do a day trip to Kyoto from Tokyo? No, don't bother. There is too much to see and do to waste over 6 hours of the day on the train.

I agree that a trip to Kyoto needs at least two nights.

If you don't feel you have time for this, I would advise sticking to shorter day trips out of Tokyo (Hakone, Kamakura, etc...)

I agree that a one-day trip isn't reasonable. However, if the OP finds something in Kyoto that sounds interesting, I think that a one-night stay in a hotel is worthwhile. Morning train down, afternoon in Kyoto, evening in Kyoto or Osaka, next day in Kyoto, evening train back to Tokyo - very doable and you could see and experience a lot, including a ride on the shinkansen.

If you're spending 7 nights in Japan and have no idea what to see, then your first step is to buy a guidebook. US$25 or so is a minimal expense in a trip that is sure to cost a couple thousand.

(I'm in a bit of a tape loop in this respect, but I'm always surprised at how many people want to go to a foreign country with no idea what's there. On another board, a questioner wanted to know what to see on the way to visiting a relative who is in the military in Okinawa. This person was asking about the "villages" of Kyoto, Yakushima, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki.)

Both Tokyo and Kyoto have entire guidebooks devoted to them from two or three publishers, and all these guidebooks contain suggestions for side trips from the core cities.

Even if you're leaving next week, you will have time to read up on your destination, and unless you live in East Asia, you'll definitely have time on the plane ride over.

If you're not near a large bookstore or aren't into paper books, then here's a list of destinations about which the Japan National Tourism Organization provides information online:

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/destinations/
I do have a guidebook. That's the first thing I bought when I decided I wanted to go there. I also have searched several sites on the web for ideas. Just wanted to get ideas from experienced travelers here.

I agree that a one-day trip isn't reasonable. However, if the OP finds something in Kyoto that sounds interesting, I think that a one-night stay in a hotel is worthwhile. Morning train down, afternoon in Kyoto, evening in Kyoto or Osaka, next day in Kyoto, evening train back to Tokyo - very doable and you could see and experience a lot, including a ride on the shinkansen.
That's a great idea. My stay at the Conrad is with points so I could spend one night on a hotel. I will be in Japan from March 28 until April 3rd. Anything besides Cherry Blossoms that should do for sure during that time?

Appreciate the help!

You may be a little early for the cherry blossoms but other trees will be in season. I think plums are in mid- to late-March, along with others. The gardens will be nice, even with the cherry trees just starting to bud out. We will have a better idea of when the sakura will be at peak as the dates come closer. The Japan weather agency actually does blossom forecasts much like weather forecasts.

Your guidebook will probably list a one or two day suggested itinerary but I'd suggest making sure to include visits to Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), Ryoan-ji temple (quite close to Kinkaku-ji and has a nice, flowering tree-lined walk around the lake in addition to the famous stone garden,) the Heian Jingu Shrine, Nijo Castle and the Maruyama Park area. For such a short visit, I wouldn't recommend wasting time on the Imperial Palace tour.

There are many, many places to visit so you will have to cherry pick from your guidebook. I am normally a bus/subway kind of traveler but in this case you might consider splurging on a few cabs to get around quickly and maximize your time in Kyoto. Since you will be keeping your room in Tokyo, you can just pack a light overnight kit for a single night in Kyoto. You can save some money by staying in an inexpensive "business hotel," which is a slightly misleading term for pretty nice places that just lack all the bells and whistles of more luxe hotels. Note that late March through late April is high season in Kyoto and you should make a room reservation as soon as possible. Selection is probably already limited. I'll be passing through there a week later (hoping for full blossoms) and made my reservations months ago.

Have a great visit. Kyoto is one of my favorite cities in the world.

My first trip to Japan back in 1998 (in my early 20s) was a week in Tokyo by myself. On one of those days I did a day trip to Kyoto. Took the first bullet train in the morning and the last one back. Certainly there was more to see in Kyoto. And I would not necessarily recommend or do it now. But at the time I thought it was a great use of my time vs. what else I might see that day? I did get to walk around and see a lot of Kyoto.

I agree that a one-day trip isn't reasonable. However, if the OP finds something in Kyoto that sounds interesting, I think that a one-night stay in a hotel is worthwhile. Morning train down, afternoon in Kyoto, evening in Kyoto or Osaka, next day in Kyoto, evening train back to Tokyo - very doable and you could see and experience a lot, including a ride on the shinkansen.

I agree with this! My father went on a day trip to Kyoto a few years ago and was very disappointed because he did not get to see much in a day and did not have time to take it all in.

We are off to Japan next week and will be staying in Kyoto for 10 days! There is so much to see in the city, without even including day trips to Nara, Uji, Arashiyama, the Toei Kyoto Studio Park, etc !

I would suggest spending the whole stay in Tokyo, with maybe a day trip to Kamakura or Nikko, that are a lot closer.

Is your hotel in Tokyo fixed?

Out of 7 days.
I'd do 3 days (2 nights) in Kyoto
Add a day to see Nara (night in Kyoto)
2 days in Tokyo is plenty unless u're here for business
Spend a day near Fuji

done.. if u have more days hit up Osaka, Hiroshima, etc

Is your hotel in Tokyo fixed?

Out of 7 days.
I'd do 3 days (2 nights) in Kyoto
Add a day to see Nara (night in Kyoto)
2 days in Tokyo is plenty unless u're here for business
Spend a day near Fuji

done.. if u have more days hit up Osaka, Hiroshima, etc

I disagree- two days is much too short for Tokyo. Spending a day 'near Fuji' would not be good use of limited time.

I disagree- two days is much too short for Tokyo. Spending a day 'near Fuji' would not be good use of limited time.

Really? I really enjoyed my day in Hakkone, on route to Kyoto.. remember 3hrs of the day is train.. the rest is in small towns which is a nice change of pace from Tokyo/Kyoto etc..

Also out of 7, more than 2 days in Tokyo is not necessary. I've spent many days in Tokyo. You can definitely do a lot there - culture, party, food, history.
but if you are talking about 7 total days, 6 in Tokyo and 1 in Kyoto dosen't make sense.. tourist sites - there are just more in Kyoto

I disagree- two days is much too short for Tokyo. Spending a day 'near Fuji' would not be good use of limited time.
And for many 2 days is too long.....:p!

Just go to Kyushu, you can also use your Hilton points in Fukuoka. Lots to see and do, the people are extremely friendly, and food is some of the best in Japan!:D

And for many 2 days is too long.....:p!

:p I've heard that too.. although I found 2 to be right.

I spent so long just wandering in the electronic district. :D

More time is better but if you only have a day, you can still do a great trip. Hard to imagine though why at a minimum you couldn't spend one night by taking an evening train down or an early morning train back. Back in the days, I used to hitchhike down from Tokyo on Saturday morning and then back on Sunday evening. Not a lot of time on the ground in Kyoto but still always a lot of fun.

If you just have one day. I'd head for Nanzenji and then do the Philospher's Walk. You can see a lot without having to worry about the logistics of getting from place to place. You could get a nice dinner in Pontacho and then catch the train back. BTW - If you get the Nozomi, it's only 2 hours 15 minutes each way. Leave at 6am arrive 8:15. Leave Kyota at 9:30pm and be back at 11:45pm.

If money is no object and you only have a day to dedicate to Westerly Japan then why not just visit Nara instead of Kyoto.

There, most of the major sights are clustered together... and there are bowing deer.
If the only thing you know about Kyoto is that you've heard it's "quite interesting" I bet you won't even realise it isn't Kyoto. And, hopefully, it will awaken your appetite and inspire you to spend some actual time in Kyoto on a future trip.

If money is no object and you only have a day to dedicate to Westerly Japan then why not just visit Nara instead of Kyoto.

There, most of the major sights are clustered together... and there are bowing deer.
If the only thing you know about Kyoto is that you've heard it's "quite interesting" I bet you won't even realise it isn't Kyoto. And, hopefully, it will awaken your appetite and inspire you to spend some actual time in Kyoto on a future trip.

I would agree except it makes the trip quite a bit longer especially if you want to see Horyuji and Toshodaiji, which IMHO are the two must see places in Nara/Asuka.

I would agree except it makes the trip quite a bit longer especially if you want to see Horyuji and Toshodaiji, which IMHO are the two must see places in Nara/Asuka.

Not sure what you mean. Yes, it takes longer to get to the main complex of temples than to any one of the X destinations in Kyoto.

However, once you arrive at the main area of Nara you're there. With Kyoto you need to arrive at X then arrange to get to Y then arrange to get to Z with all the tedious in between bits sapping energy, time and enthusiasm. Unless... you contract a driver/taxi like Mr Doi to whirl you around the Kyoto highlights for the day.

Not sure what you mean. Yes, it takes longer to get to the main complex of temples than to any one of the X destinations in Kyoto.

However, once you arrive at the main area of Nara you're there. With Kyoto you need to arrive at X then arrange to get to Y then arrange to get to Z with all the tedious in between bits sapping energy, time and enthusiasm. Unless... you contract a driver/taxi like Mr Doi to whirl you around the Kyoto highlights for the day.

My point was that you need to take another 40 minute train from Kyoto to get to Nara and then take another 30/40 minute taxi or bus to see the best of Nara. Whereas with Kyoto, if you go to Nanzen and do the Philosopher's walk, it's just one 5 or 10 minute taxi ride and then you everything else is walking.

My point was that you need to take another 40 minute train from Kyoto to get to Nara and then take another 30/40 minute taxi or bus to see the best of Nara..
????
The journey to Kintetsu Nara is 35 minutes from Kyoto station
Then it's a short 10 minutes walk to get from KintetsuNara station to the complex (within 3 minutes you're already within parks and green spaces surrounded by deer and everything's beautiful and will remain beautiful until it's time to head back)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Nara+map&hl=en&ll=34.683123,135.835433&spn=0.028161,0.050983&client=firefox-a&hnear=Nara,+Nara+Prefecture,+Japan&gl=uk&t=m&z=15

You can leave Shinagawa station in Tokyo at 6:07 by Nozomi bullet train and be at KintetsuNara station by 9:05am. i.e. 3 hours, the time the OP expected to spend on the journey.

The standard very acceptable alternative for most visitors who need to travel with the Hikari Bullet train (due to the T&Cs of their Japan Rail passes) is to leave Shinagawa at 6:34 and arrive at Kyoto at 09:15.

OP is only going for a day so won't need to buy a Japan Rail pass and can travel by Nozomi.

I agree. Whether you go by Kintetsu or JR, it's only a short walk to the main attractions of Nara, slightly longer in the case of the JR route, but you get to walk down a pleasant shopping street.

I like Nara for a day. A day trip to Kyoto would seem very long and tiring, but doing this might still be better than not seeing Kyoto at all. However, if you go, be sure to be in the old Kyoto geisha quarter near the river in the early evening when you can geisha on the streets. You can also go to a traditional theater performance, but if you do not know and understand the history and culture, it could seem long and boring except for the costumes.

I think either an overnight or a long day would be worth it, if only to see how different Kyoto is from Tokyo. If you head straight from the train up to the old neighborhood where many of the temples are clustered, you can then wander for hours. I really enjoyed our brief 2-night stay in Kyoto; it's a city, but there are so many great sites concentrated in one area that you could feel like you're in a smaller town. (with such a short time, I might skip the Golden Pavillion - it's impressive, but it takes a long time to get there, and there's not much to see in the immediate neighborhood)

The Hyatt is a nice place if you decide to stay - it's situated between the station and the historic district, so access is good, and the service is great.

????
The journey to Kintetsu Nara is 35 minutes from Kyoto station
Then it's a short 10 minutes walk to get from KintetsuNara station to the complex (within 3 minutes you're already within parks and green spaces surrounded by deer and everything's beautiful and will remain beautiful until it's time to head back)

You can leave Shinagawa station in Tokyo at 6:07 by Nozomi bullet train and be at KintetsuNara station by 9:05am. i.e. 3 hours, the time the OP expected to spend on the journey.

OP is only going for a day so won't need to buy a Japan Rail pass and can travel by Nozomi.

So basically nearly an extra hour each way, but you still have to travel to get to Horyuji, Yakushiji, and Toshodai, which IMHO have some of greatest ancient architecture and scupture in the world

May just be personal preference, but I would never recommend anyone go to Nara and just visit Todaiji.

May just be personal preference, but I would never recommend anyone go to Nara and just visit Todaiji.
Summarising the glories within and around Nara Park as "just visiting Todaiji" is rather disingenuous.

The reason I've pushed Nara is because you only need to catch the right trains to get there (not hard) head East out of the station and walk. One wouldn't even need a map - although the route to Nara park passes right in front of a tourist information office so it would take seconds to obtain one (compare this to the time it takes to visit the Tourist Information centre at Kyoto station)
The most complex and arduous part of the day is going from the shinkansen tracks to the Kintetsu part of Kyoto station.

Should the OP feel they have the time and wish to add on Horyuji then it's a 12 minute ride from Nara and from Horyuji station there's a direct connection to Kyoto; an extra 24 minutes of travel time for the round trip... or they could just leave it for another visit. Horyuji is a mere 35 minute train ride from Osaka.

Perhaps it would be more constructive if you were to post a foolproof itinerary of Kyoto for the OP. I'll assume you will be including the sublime Byodo-in in this itinerary which at 18minutes from Kyoto is a little more than Horyuji and a little less than Yakushiji from Nara.

EDIT - This has given me a thought.
I hadn't considered it (I was thinking of the faster Kintetsu line connection) but a visit to Byoudoin is perfectly feasible as part of a day trip to Nara.
One would leave Nara from the JR station and Uji station is practically half way to Kyoto. Just make sure you can give it at least 2 and a half hours to do some justice to the area.
Byodo-in is the temple on the 10yen coins and the depicted Phoenix Hall is truly breathtaking. A walk around Nara Park and a stop off at Uji to see the Byoudoin and neighbour temples (and perhaps tea houses) would be a full and intensely satisfying day.
http://hananoen.city.uji.kyoto.jp/en/ujikankou/index.html

So basically nearly an extra hour each way, but you still have to travel to get to Horyuji, Yakushiji, and Toshodai, which IMHO have some of greatest ancient architecture and scupture in the world

May just be personal preference, but I would never recommend anyone go to Nara and just visit Todaiji.

I think it really is down to personal preference.

I visited Yakushiji and Toshodai on my first stay in Nara. I can't say that they left the greatest impression on me. Perhaps it reflects badly on me, but I think the biggest thrill for me in Nara at that time was meeting the deer and finding a city wiith so much green space. I was a callow student and I didn't know one end of an ancient monument from another. Nonetheless Nara stood out as one of my favorite places in Japan.

I must confess that I didn't visit Horyuji until many years after that first stay. I'm glad I eventually went there. It's a trip that I'll never forget because it's the time I was finally able to introduce my British parents to my Japanese parents - and my Japanese father was able to show us things that his father had made there. It was a wow moment. However, I can't agree that no visit to Nara is worthwhile unless it includes a trip to Horyuji. It's not a "stamp rally" where you have to get every stamp in your book to earn the prize. I think you can have an awesome time in Nara and get a feel for the place as a unique city without completing the ancient monuments checklist. YMMV.

Having said all of that ... my advice to the OP would be to stay in Kanto. See the sites there. Save Kansai for another trip when he can devote more time to the region.

My head is spinning with all the suggestions! I did book one night at the Hilton in Osaka so I could spend more time in Kyoto. I will take the early morning train to Osaka, drop off my overnight bag at the hotel and spend the afternoon and evening in Kyoto, and the following day.

I'm assuming any of the suggestions are safe for a woman traveling alone. Any areas to avoid? How difficult is it to use the trains? Are the signs in English? I've traveled all over Europe by myself so am used to getting around in other countries, but have never done this in an area with cyrillic language.

My head is spinning with all the suggestions! I did book one night at the Hilton in Osaka so I could spend more time in Kyoto. I will take the early morning train to Osaka, drop off my overnight bag at the hotel and spend the afternoon and evening in Kyoto, and the following day.

I'm assuming any of the suggestions are safe for a woman traveling alone. Any areas to avoid? How difficult is it to use the trains? Are the signs in English? I've traveled all over Europe by myself so am used to getting around in other countries, but have never done this in an area with cyrillic language.
Why stay in Osaka when you're going to visit Kyoto? Osaka is a big modern commercial city. It has a huge and potentially co fusing train station. Even if you want to see the castle, this could be done as a side trip from Kyoto or a stopover to/from Kyoto.

Japan is generally extremely safe. It's better to stay clear of rip-off bars and pinball/gambling halls as well as dark side alleys at night. Be sure to always have with you the name and address of your hotel written in Japanese characters.

Why stay in Osaka when you're going to visit Kyoto? Osaka is a big modern commercial city. It has a huge and potentially co fusing train station. Even if you want to see the castle, this could be done as a side trip from Kyoto or a stopover to/from Kyoto.

Japan is generally extremely safe. It's better to stay clear of rip-off bars and pinball/gambling halls as well as dark side alleys at night. Be sure to always have with you the name and address of your hotel written in Japanese characters.

Staying in Osaka since I use Hilton points for a free room. I will check the rates at the hotels in Kyoto to see what I can find. I do have Hyatt points, but probably not enough for a free stay. Also have Marriott and Holiday Inn points.

never done this in an area with cyrillic language.
AFAIK, St. Cyril never made it to Japan.

I'm assuming any of the suggestions are safe for a woman traveling alone.
Some time ago I spent nearly a year in bed having suffered a burst spinal disc and subsequent surgery. Once I was able to stop using the wheelchair I felt fragile physically and emotionally and needed to do a lot of exercise in order to rejoin the world as an independent woman. My husband couldn't take the time off work (he used all his time up looking after me after the surgery) and I needed to go somewhere where I'd feel safe. Having had experience of the area I chose Western Japan for my rehabilitation trip and spent a magical day in Nara. It was a huge boost to my confidence.

I don't speak Japanese and I doubt you'll feel quite as vulnerable as I did then, so yes, I can confidently say you'll be absolutely fine and my suggestions have been geared towards a first time traveller with little to no knowledge of the Kansai area. I have to stress that Kyoto is much trickier. If you're serious about tackling this sprawling city I would highly recommend one of Diane Durston's Guide Books, particularly "Kyoto: Seven Paths to The Heart of The City"

AFAIK, St. Cyril never made it to Japan.

Of course, working too much lately with Russia.

The modern Japanese writing system uses three main scripts:
* Kanji, adopted Chinese characters
* Kana, a pair of syllabaries (like phonetic alphabets), consisting of:
Hiragana, used, along with kanji, for native or naturalised Japanese words, and for grammatical elements
* Katakana, used for foreign words and names, loanwords, onomatopoeia, scientific names, and sometimes to replace kanji or hiragana for emphasis.

Thanks for the info. It was interesting learning about St. Cyril. Did not realize that that was where the name "cyrillic" came from. I learn something everyday on FT. :)

Some time ago I spent nearly a year in bed having suffered a burst spinal disc and subsequent surgery. Once I was able to stop using the wheelchair I felt fragile physically and emotionally and needed to do a lot of exercise in order to rejoin the world as an independent woman. My husband couldn't take the time off work (he used all his time up looking after me after the surgery) and I needed to go somewhere where I'd feel safe. Having had experience of the area I chose Western Japan for my rehabilitation trip and spent a magical day in Nara. It was a huge boost to my confidence.

I don't speak Japanese and I doubt you'll feel quite as vulnerable as I did then, so yes, I can confidently say you'll be absolutely fine and my suggestions have been geared towards a first time traveller with little to no knowledge of the Kansai area. I have to stress that Kyoto is much trickier. If you're serious about tackling this sprawling city I would highly recommend one of Diane Durston's Guide Books, particularly "Kyoto: Seven Paths to The Heart of The City"
What an accomplishment! Thanks for sharing it. I have a few months to decide what to do. If I go to Kyoto, I will probably take a tour to make it easier to see the sights. Nara also sounds interesting. Thanks for recommending the book.

Ditto. As everyone said, It is a very safe city. Another good guide to Kyoto is "Kyoto a A Contemplative Guide." It's out of print, but you can buy it used on Amazon. Best guidebook on any city, I have ever read.

Logistically, it's a lot better to stay in Kyoto if you can. Cheap Japanese hotels are very serviceable if you are on a tight budget. You can probably find a place for $50 or $60 a night.

Kyoto and Osaka are about 30 minutes apart by local trains, with express trains running every 15 minutes or so. Osaka station is not huge and sprawling, all important signs are in English, even the announcements on the train are in English. The Hilton is directly across the street from Osaka station. Staying in Kyoto would be a bit easier, but you won't be going way out of our way to stay in Osaka. Definitely get a guidebook and plan out what you want to see and do. You're going to love Kyoto, not just for the historic sites, but also for the feel of the city and shops. I recommend leaving Nara for another trip, though as posters above have said, it has some great things to see too.

Of course, working too much lately with Russia.

The modern Japanese writing system uses three main scripts:
* Kanji, adopted Chinese characters
* Kana, a pair of syllabaries (like phonetic alphabets), consisting of:
Hiragana, used, along with kanji, for native or naturalised Japanese words, and for grammatical elements
* Katakana, used for foreign words and names, loanwords, onomatopoeia, scientific names, and sometimes to replace kanji or hiragana for emphasis.

Thanks for the info. It was interesting learning about St. Cyril. Did not realize that that was where the name "cyrillic" came from. I learn something everyday on FT. :)

Five main scripts. Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana, Romaji, and Emoticons.

Don't take a tour. You can easily do it on your own and being shuffled on and off the bus is a bore.

Staying in Osaka since I use Hilton points for a free room. I will check the rates at the hotels in Kyoto to see what I can find. I do have Hyatt points, but probably not enough for a free stay. Also have Marriott and Holiday Inn points.

Not sure if you can do starwood.. but the Westin Kyoto is an awesome hotel.
steps from subway station, close to a great Okonomiyaki spot, and nice rooms with a decent lounge.

It's not that expensive so given your time constraint, don't stay in Osaka.. u're wasting an hour a day in just train ride back and forth

Not sure if you can do starwood.. but the Westin Kyoto is an awesome hotel.
steps from subway station, close to a great Okonomiyaki spot, and nice rooms with a decent lounge.

It's not that expensive so given your time constraint, don't stay in Osaka.. u're wasting an hour a day in just train ride back and forth

The rate is $350 for a non smoking room non refundable or over $500 for non smoking room that can be cancelled. Does this sound normal? It's $50 cheaper for a smoking room, but could not handle that.

The rate is $350 for a non smoking room non refundable or over $500 for non smoking room that can be cancelled. Does this sound normal? It's $50 cheaper for a smoking room, but could not handle that.

Westin Kyoto?? No not normal.
I saw it for around $160-200.. wow $350 seems really high..
I went around May.. so not sure about timing?

. Does this sound normal? As I indicated in a previous post, your dates fall in the midst of the highest of the high season. Hotels will always increase rates, sometimes even double. I would not pay $350.00 for the Westin if I could get the Comfort or Hearton for $100.00+/-.

No way is the Westin Kyoto worth it at that price. It's a nice enough hotel and the location is a great spot for exploring Eastern Kyoto, but really not all that special.

At some times of year, Kyoto gets very, very full and the hotels all jack up their prices. The commute from Osaka station to Kyoto is just 30 minutes, and staying there is one way to keep costs down. I'd prefer to stay in Kyoto, but it's really no hardship to commute from central Osaka. (But avoid "Osaka Bayside" etc. - that starts to become a hike)

I usually stay at the Westin (formerly Miyako). I'm seeing it at 11,200 yen on ikyu.com. $300 seems expensive. Eastern Kyoto is a great day trip and the Miyako is perfect for this.

Are the cheapest rooms at the Westin Miyako still to be avoided? They were in need of a refresh last time I checked.

I checked for all the nights that I will be in Japan except the last night. Started with March 29. Unless my converter program is all screwed up. The rate was 22,400 Yen for smoking room non refundable. 26,600 for non smoking. Refundable rate is 38,000 Yen.

I'll try a few other places, but it looks like Osaka is where I will be.

I checked for all the nights that I will be in Japan except the last night. Started with March 29. Unless my converter program is all screwed up. The rate was 22,400 Yen for smoking room non refundable. 26,600 for non smoking. Refundable rate is 38,000 Yen.

I'll try a few other places, but it looks like Osaka is where I will be.

March 29 non-smoking is on ikyu.com for 12,600. In Japan the rates on the hotel website are usually much higher than what you can get through a travel agent or travel site.

Lot of stuff available near the station for 7000 or 8000 yen.

I'll try a few other places, but it looks like Osaka is where I will be.

Check out this one -
http://www.rph-the.co.jp/en/

Ditto. As everyone said, It is a very safe city. Another good guide to Kyoto is "Kyoto a A Contemplative Guide." It's out of print, but you can buy it used on Amazon. Best guidebook on any city, I have ever read.

Logistically, it's a lot better to stay in Kyoto if you can. Cheap Japanese hotels are very serviceable if you are on a tight budget. You can probably find a place for $50 or $60 a night.

I got both of the recommended books - the one recommended by Skhours and the one recommended by LapLap. Also bought a map of Kyoto. Now just have to read thru them and decide what I can see if 1 1/2 days. Still looking for a hotel in Kyoto, but have the one in Osaka booked as a backup.

Thanks for all the help!

I got both of the recommended books - the one recommended by Skhours and the one recommended by LapLap. Also bought a map of Kyoto. Now just have to read thru them and decide what I can see if 1 1/2 days. Still looking for a hotel in Kyoto, but have the one in Osaka booked as a backup.

Thanks for all the help!

Hope you have a great trip.

I've booked the Best Western in Kyoto. Has anyone stayed there?

Just a few weeks before my trip and I've decided not to go to Kyoto. I'm going to do that on another trip when I can spend more time there. So I will have 6 days in Tokyo and will do some day trips from there.

Appreciate everyone's advice!

Totally worth it. Kyoto is a beautiful city rich with historical temples, buildings and wonderful people. Get a rail pass before you leave to Japan. The rail pass is a great value (one trip and it pays for itself) and you can only get it if you are a tourist. You can stop and see all the other wonderful places like Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe as well with out having to pay extra. I would recommend that you get a "Green" pass, it's like a business class with reserved seats (they have economy seats without reservations) and it doesn't cost that much more. You can get a week pass or a 2 week pass. You can also use the rail pass on JR (Japan Railway) trains, subways and even buses.

I would recommend that you get a "Green" pass, it's like a business class with reserved seats (they have economy seats without reservations) and it doesn't cost that much more.
The ordinary pass also allows seat reservations.

You can also use the rail pass on JR (Japan Railway) trains, subways and even buses.
On most subways, non-JR railways, and buses, the JR pass is not valid. A few exceptions are detailed on the JR pass website.

The rail pass is a great value (one trip and it pays for itself) and you can only get it if you are a tourist.

I am sometimes a tourist. Can I ?

I am sometimes a tourist. Can I ?

Not if you live in Japan or are there on a work or student or spouse visa.

Only people on short-term visitors' visas are eligible.

I think she was being facetious. I suspect she already knows that. ;)